A timeline of the September 11 attacks - Essay Example

This essay provides a short information about the catastrophe and further events till September 30. Three hijacked planes hit the World Trade Centre in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC. A fourth plane crashes into a field in Pennsylvania…

Extract of sampleA timeline of the September 11 attacks

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This essay provides a short information about the catastrophe and further events till September 30. Three hijacked planes hit the World Trade Centre in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC. A fourth plane crashes into a field in Pennsylvania.The FAA stops all flight operations in the capital and around the nation for the very first time in the history of America (House of Commons Librarary, 2001, pp 1-72) The president: George Bush addresses the nation and vows to find the people responsible for the attack in order for justice to be served. Trading at the world trade centre is stopped as the police are sent to conduct rescue services in the areas affected the attacks. International leaders shoe their outrage over the attacks as they move in swiftly to help in the rescue operations (Watchtel, 2009, pp 1-48). September 12, 2001: the New York mayor at the moment Giuliani notifies that the death toll at the world trade centre will be in thousands (Anderson, 2003, pp 1-30). The fire fighters from various departments and the military continue combating the fire in the two cities of New York and Washington. The president terms the attacks as acts of war and requests the congress to help rebuild America by devoting $20 billion (House of Commons Librarary, 2001, pp 1-72). September 13, 2001: president bush vows to lead the world to victory over terrorism terming the attacks as the first war of the 21st century (Englar, 2007, pp 1-25). The then secretary of state Colin Powel after consultations with the department of defence identifies Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect with the then deputy Defence secretary saying that the US will respond with a sustained military campaign. The FAA allows the airports to begin operations but under tight surveillance (Langley, 2006, pp 3-50). September 14, 2001: President Bush declares a national emergency and instructs the military to call fifty thousand soldiers to active duty (House of Commons Librarary, 2001, 1-72). The department of defence releases a list of the nineteen suspected hijackers. At the same time Afghanistan’s Taliban militia group warn America of revenging if the US attacked it for hosting the Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (Watchtel, 2009, pp 1-48). September 15, 2001: the president declares waging an unrelenting war to hunt down terrorist and the state department cautions that any government that supports terrorism will be isolated (House of Commons Librarary, 2001, pp 1-72). Pakistan on the other hand agrees to help Americans to attack the neighbouring Afghanistan. September 16, 2001: Osama bin Laden denies involvement in the attack as President Bush pledges to rid the world all evil doers brushing off Osama’s claims (House of Commons Librarary, 2001, pp 1-72). The vice president Dick Cheney warns anyone who harbours terrorists will be dealt with mercilessly by the US. United States send a delegation to Afghanistan to release Osama or risk massive attacks (Schier, 2008, pp 6-100). September 17, 2001: Taliban leaders say that a grand council of Muslim clerics will decide on whether to hand in Osama or not. The Federal Reserve of America cuts its key interests in a bid to keep the economy from plunging into a recession. The FBI releases a list of names that they want detained both in the US and abroad. Trading begins at the New York stock exchange. September 18, 2001: the Taliban Muslim leaders call on all Muslims to wage a Holy war in the event that America attacks them. The defence secretary says the administration is preparing attacks on terrorists and those countries that support terrorist activities (Heider, 2008, pp 1-41). President Bush leads the US people in a moment of silent to remember the people who perished in the attacks (Langley, 2006, pp 3-50). September 19, 2001: the Pentagon gives an order that combat aircrafts should base in the Persian Gulf. President Bush continues with his push to get world leaders to support him in the fight against terrorism and meets with different
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Three of these attacks successfully reached their intended target, leading to the deaths of thousands of Americans. These attacks were meant to undermine American liberties and ideals and were also considered expressions of outrage against American policies in the Middle East and against the Muslim nation.

This has angered many Islamic groups and nations but the strategic energy interests of the USA have led to it ignoring these sentiments. The attacks by the al Qaeda are believed to be hooked to the belief by the group that predominantly Christian countries like the USA deny them deserving power, prestige and leading role in world economy and politics.

Within the PBS television program known as Frontline,several controversial aspects of America’s War on Terror are analyzed and discussed:the breakdown in communication which ended up allowing the September 11th attacks to occur,the techniques used to interrogate terrorist suspects,and the immense amount of money that is spent on counter-terror efforts.

511). For many of us, with the help of information technology, the events were witnessed in real time. With initial bewilderment we witnessed the first commercial airplane crash into the first tower of the World Trade Center. When the second commercial airplane crashed into the second tower of the World Trade Center, bewilderment turned to fear.

Everyone woke up on that day with great expectations, hoping that this would be just another day in their busy lives, probably better. Some citizens went to their offices as early as they could, some to their businesses, others to school while others drove to the airports to catch their flights without knowing that their fate and destiny had already been decided by a group of self-centered notorious criminals, that is the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

This entire episode had a very earth shattering impact on the people because of the thousands of people that were killed in the process. The aftermath of the horrendous event had a very long lasting derogatory impact on the minds of the Americans as they tore down mosques and temples and did not trust anyone practising Islam.

The author of the report claims that the question of what caused the 9/11 attacks remains elusive but has been largely attributed to the failed foreign policy as was applied in the Middle East. The US had attracted hostility due to its support for Israel, a Jewish state, to be established and sustained.

One, at around "8:46 hours Eastern Time", the suicide hijackers crashed the "American Airlines Flight 11" into the world Business Center's North Tower; the tower collapsed and crumbled into pieces (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, chapter 5). Minutes later, a similar attack - involving the "United Airlines Flight 175" - occurred where the plane was crushed into the "Southern tower" of the centre; the tower also collapsed (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, chapter 5).

rashed into a Pennsylvania field after the passengers on this plane heroically stood up to the terrorists and did not allow them to accomplish this particular mission. The attack was this generations Pearl Harbor, and caused ripple effects that included Americas involvement in